Filling apparatus



Oct. 29, 1963 Filed Jan. 19, 1960 H. F. cox, JR FILLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I JNVENTOR. HERBERT. F. COX.JR.

ATTORNEY 4 Oct. 29, 1963 H. F. cox, JR 3,108,901

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVEJVTOR. HERBERT. F. cox. JR.

ATTORNE t Oct. 29, 1963 H. F. cox, JR 3,108,901

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1960 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HERBERT. F. COX. J R.

ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1963 H. F. cox, JR

FILLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1960 INVENTOR. HERBERT. F. COX.JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,108,901 FILLING APPARATUS Herbert F. Cox, In, 466 Sedgwicir Drive, Syracuse, N.Y. Filed Jan. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 3,344 18 Claims. (Cl. 177-118) T his invention relates to liquid filling apparatus, and

more particularly to apparatus for filling liquid tight containers of flexible material.

in an application, Ser. No. 599,958, filed July 25, 1956, now Patent No. 3,007,608, issued Nov. 7, 1961, there is disclosed a liquid carton suitable for milk employing a relatively rigid container structure, having a flexible liquid tight liner of flexible material such as thin polyethylene. Such liner material is manufactured in elongated tubular fashion, and to provide individual liners, suitable lengths of such tubular material cut from stock are selected, and the open cut ends thereof closed off as by forming a seam across the end or immediately adjacent thereto by heat and momentary fusion of the plastic. In the above application, containers so formed and sea-led at one end and provided With an outlet hose at the other end secured to the liner by gathering and compressing the liner material around an end of the outlet hose have been found to provide a satisfactory leak tight liner with a dispensing hose, which may be employed within a relatively rigid sustaining carton, milk can or the like.

It has been proposed to fill such liners from. one end, and heat seal the material thereafter, or fill the liner from an opening in one end, after which the material adjacent the Opening is gathered around one end of a length of hose and tightly bound to the hose. The hose becomes the means of emptying such container. Each of these methods, while satisfactory in many respects, have their drawbacks. In the filling of any container having air, and this is particularly true of milk and milk products such as ice cream mix, the inflowing liquid foams in the presence of air, and the degree of such foaming depends in part with the speed of filling. The formation of foam interferes with the sealing of the open end, or of the sealing of the open end by attachment of a hose. In addition the presence of any air within the sealed package, particularly in respect of milk products, has a direct hearing on the length of time milk products may be stored under usual refrigeration conditions.

The present invention is directed to apparatus for filling flexible liners in cartons, through a small hose previously connected to the liner. The invention contemplates the employment of liners made from thin tubular plastic stock which are heat sealed and supplied with a small filler hose preferably at the original place of manufacture Where such tubular stock is extruded. It is the practice to reel such extruded stock immediately into rolls in flat form with air completely removed. From such rolled stock, the tubular plastic is withdrawn in flat form, and sections of suitable length are cut, and each section heat sealed at their opposite ends, with a short length of hose attached to one end, as for example by the gathering method disclosed in the aforesaid application. A multiplicity of such liners in fiat form substantially devoid of air, and with the hose end sanitarily sealed may be shipped to any place where filling is to be effected, it being understood that such liner remains sanitary because 3 l Patented Get. 29, 1963 "ice sealed and devoid of exposure to ambient air for all practical purposes from the time of original extrusion of the tubular liner material.

The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to couple with the tube of such a liner, withdraw from said liner and said tube substantially any and all air or gases that may be present therein by subjecting the liner and tube to a high degree of vacuum, and immediately thereafter fill the liner with milk, a fluid milk product, or such other liquids as may be packaged in an impervious flexible liner supported within a semi-rigid container, such as a corrugated carton or the like.

Vacuumizing of containers during or prior to filling has been practiced in the case of rigid containers of metal or glass. Such practice tends to collapse the container, and thus restricts the degree of vacuum that can be safely employed, thus leaving a substantial volume of air according to the volume of the container, although such volume of air is quantitatively reduced by being ranified. The present invention employs a container that is supplied in substantially collapsed form, or which may be collapsed by the application of a source of vacuum, so that substantially no air whatsoever exists in the container, even though a low Vacuum be employed. The only advantage in using a high vacuum in the present invention, is to remove as much air as possible from the tube, which because of its body and cylindrical form and small diameter is able to Withstand any tendency to collapse, when subjected to a high vacuum.

The invention is directed to apparatus adapted to conple to a fill tube of a flexible liner of the type described in a sanitary manner, subject the tube and liner to vacuum, and thereafter while so coupled, fill the liner with the liquid to the extent desired, the liquid being supplied under pressure. The liner is supported within a paperboard carton or other relatively rigid container while being filled.

The invention is directed to apparatus adapted to fill such a liner without foaming, utilizing a pressure supply, whereby filling is expedited, even though a small tube be employed because no air is present. In addition the invention is directed to apparatus adapted to measure the quantity delivered to a package liner of the type described by cutting off the supply when the desired weight has been delivered into the carton supported liner.

The invention is further directed to apparatus of a highly sanitary type having provision for sanitarily closing off the fill tube when filling is completed.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the platform scale and valve filling apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the valve and hose support arm;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the hose support arm;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the hose support arm taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the valve taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve nozzle in sealed engagement with a hose end in the support arm.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic scale operated control circuit.

FIGURE '8 is a perspective fragmentary view of the open end of a carton and collapsed liner and fill tube, ready for filling;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a breast or insert for placing in the carton after filling; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view through a filled carton, with the carton flaps closed.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG- URE 1, there is shown a base 20, having therein a scale 21 of standard form, with a scale platform 22. The scale is provided with a sensitive electrical switch, such as a micro switch, as at 24 and such switch is actuated to close a circuit, responsive to a predetermined weight upon the platform 22. The predetermined weight may be adjusted as by a screw 26. The form of the scale and the means for actuating the switch in response to a pre-se-lected weight upon the platform and the resulting movement thereof will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

From the rear of the base there extends upwardly a support column 28. Extending forwardly from the column, and over the scale platform, is a filling valve 30, and a support arm 32. The support arm is adapted to receive the free end of a hose 34, extending from the flexible liner disposed within the open ended carton 36, resting upon the scale platform 22.

The scale platform supports the carton of corrugated paperboard or the like, the carton 36, during filling having its upper end flaps opened as shown in FIGURE 1 (also FIGURE '8). The carton at its upper end may have side flaps 10 and 11, and end flaps 12 and 13. Placed within the carton, prior to filling, is a plastic liner 14 in collapsed fiat condition. The girth and length of the liner is substantially greater than the inside dimensions of the carton so that the liner when filled rests against the internal wall of the carton, and is not subjected to strain. The liner has a hose 34, one end of which is secured in a gathered end 16 of the liner and bound by a wire band 17. The hose is adapted to be used as a fill tube.

On filling, the liner is gradually caused to fill out and expand within the confines of the carton. When filled, the hose end is sealed. A breast member .18 having tapered side flanges 19, and end flanges 25 and 27, and an aperture 21, is then threaded over the hose, and placed in the carton end unless the breast was already in position before filling commenced. The hose end which has been sealed is disposed in the space between the flanges 19. Thereafter the carton end flap 12 is closed, the side flaps 10 and 11 closed, and the end flap 13 closed. The carton end is then suitably sealed as by gummed tape applied over the flaps. When it is desired to dispense the liquid from the carton, the end flap 13 is opened. The cutaway corners 23 of the side flaps 10 and 11 provide an access opening through which can be reached the hose end, after which the hose end may be withdrawn. The carton is then inverted, the hose end extended through a valve as, for example, of the pinch type after which the sealed end of the tube is uncorked or the end cut off. It will be seen that the carton and liner is thus ready for dispensing at will, the liner being supported on the inclined breast 18 to facilitate substantially complete dispensing of the entire contents of the line-r. As dispensing takes place, the liner collapses within the carton, and no air at any time enters the liner or contacts the contents Within the liner, the liner collapsing as dispensing progresses. The filled carton is adapted to be set in a refrigeration cabinet, and the hose end brought out through a small aperture in such cabinet, and through a suitable valve, all of which is referred to in more detail in the aforesaid application.

The support arm for holding the tube is more particularly shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. As shown, the arm 32 extends from a support sleeve 42, which may be adjusted for height upon the column 28 to accommodate varying package heights. Such arm at its outer end 40 is provided with a clamp arm or member 44 pivoted to the outer end 40 as at 46. The outer end 40 of the arm 32 and clamp arm 44 are provided with semicircular sleeve elements 50, 52 removably held in semicircular recesses in their respective arm portions by studs 48. When the arms 40 and 44 and the sleeve elements vare brought together and held by the thumb-screw 54 the sleeve elements present a vertically extending cylindrical aperture 56- of a diameter adapted to snugly clamp the end of the rubber hose 34 over a suificient length thereof. The upper end of the aperture formed by the sleeve elements is outwardly flared conically as is indicated at 58.

In practice, the sealed end 37 of a hose, sealed as by a cork 39, will be positioned between the arms 40 and 44, and clamped therein with its sealed end disposed above the arms. When thus held, the sealed end may be severed from the hose end by a transverse cut taken flush with the upper surfaces 60 of the arms 40 and 44, a sanitary sharp knife being employed for the purpose.

Disposed above the hose support arm 32 is the fill valve assembly 30', rigidly supported upon an arm 6-2, projecting from a sleeve 64 embracing the column 28. Such arm may be adjusted as to height. The arm has afiixed to its outer end, a cylindrical guide sleeve 65-, coaxially disposed above the aperture 56 of the sleeve portions 50, 52, and the end of a hose supported therein. Within the guide sleeve are spaced annular bushings 66 and 68, in which is slidably mounted the hollow shank portion 72 of a valve sleeve body 70. The lower end of the valve sleeve body is provided with radially extending trunnions 74 and 76 which extend into slots in lever arms such as 73 and 79 disposed on opposite sides of the valve body. The lever arms are pivoted upon trunnions 80 projecting radially from the opposite sides of the trunnion sleeve '82 mounted on the column 28. The lever arms 78 and 79 extend forward of the valve body and are connected by a transverse handle 82. A weight 84 disposed on the opposite ends 85 of the lever arm behind the column 28 serves to bias the valve body to its uppermost position, with the shoulder 86 at the lower end of the shank '72 in engagement with the lower bushing 66.

The valve body is provided with a radial liquid inlet nipple 88 connected by a hose 89 extending to a pressure source of liquid, and a radial vacuum nipple 90, adapted to be connected to a vacuum pump, the nipple being disposed below the inlet nipple. A hose 91 extends to a vacuum pump 103, through a trap 105. Within the cylindrical bore 92 of the valve body is a slidable valve element 93, the upper end of which has an integral shank 94 extending upwardly and projecting through and slidably disposed within a collar 96 threaded in the upper end of the hollow valve body shank 72. A preloaded compression spring 98 is disposed around the shank 94, and extends between the collar 96 and the shank shoulder 99. The upper end of the shank 94- beyond the collar 96 is provided with a split ring or clip 111 disposed in an annular groove 113, which ring 111 acts as a shoulder to limit relative movement between the shank 94 and collar 96.

The valve element is provided with an axial outlet passage 180, capped at its lower end by a nozzle 102 threaded upon the element as at 107. The lower end of the nozzle as at 103 is tapered to nicely enter the open end of the open hose end cut flush with the surface 60, and held in the clamp arms 40 and 44. The upper end of the passage 100 terminates in a transverse passage 104 leading to a peripheral annular channel 106 around the valve element. The valve element is provided with O ring seals 108, 110, 112 and 1'14, disposed in annular grooves in the valve element.

When a carton containing a flexible liner is disposed on the scale platform, and the fill hose is supported between the arms 40 and 44, and the end seal cut from the hose, the valve body 79 with the valve element is lowered as a unit by manipulation of the levers 78 and 79, so as to project the tapered end 103 of the nozzle into the hose end. Slight further downward movement of the parts causes the tapered end of the nozzle to resiliently expand the rubber tube end against the tapered flare 58 and to form a seal. The pressure that can be exerted for this purpose is dependent upon the preloading of the spring 98. The under face 109' of the nozzle may engage the surface 60 of the tube support arm, and limit the pressure that can be exerted on the tube end wall. (See FIG. 6 Further lowering of the valve body 7% results in relative movement between it and the valve element 93, bringing the vacuum nipple into alignment with the annular channel or groove 106. At once the liner and its inlet tube are subjected to a high degree of vacuum, removing and rarifying any gas or air in the tube 34-, and practically eliminating substantially all air or gases from the tube and liner, and collapsing the liner completely. Further lowering of the valve body 79 results in further relative movement between the valve body and valve element 93, shifting the annular groove from alignment with the vacuum nipple,

to a connection with the inlet nipple 88, which is connected to the supply of milk or other liquid product, and which supply is under pressure. Rapid filling of the liner commences filling out or expanding the liner against the side walls of the carton.

In order to accurately measure the quantity of liquid dispensed, and to cut oif the flow, when such measured quantity has been delivered to the carton liner, a hold down lock bar pivoted on a pin 122 extending between the levers 78 and 79 is provided. The bar extends upwardly on a slant to one side of the pivot and has a knee bend 123. The vertical upper end portion of such bar extends through a guide slot 124 in the arm 62. The upper end of the bar abuts against the underside of a detent 126 of a link 128 pivoted as at 130 upon the arm 62. The upper end of the link is connected to the plunger 132 of a solenoid 134, which is connected in circuit with the microswitch 42. The plunger is spring biased as is shown at 135.

As diagrammatically indicated in FIGURE 7, when the predetermined fill weight is attained, the scale spring 140 or scale beam allows platform 22 to be moved down, switch 24 closed and the solenoid 134 is energized. The plunger 132 is thus drawn into the solenoid, rocking the link 128 against spring 135, so as to disengage the detent 126 from the end 137 of the hold down lock bar 120. When this occurs the valve body i released and moves upwardly instantly and quickly, under the combined urge of the counter Weight 84, and the spring 93. During the major part of the upward movement, the valve element 93 is held with the nozzle sealedv in the end of the hose, by the reaction of the spring 98. The relative movement between the valve body and valve element instantly cuts off the flow of milk from port 88, the annular groove 106 immediately shifting from alignment with such port. The groove swiftly passes vacuum port 90 thereafter. When the split ring 111 on the valve element shank 94 engages the collar 96, valve body and element commence to move upwardly together by reason of the counterweight 84 alone, disconnecting the nozzle from the hose end. This leaves the hose end ready to be plugged, and after insertion of a plug the fill procedure has been completed. Thereafter the hose end is released from the clamp, by loosening thumbscrew 54. The hose end is then tucked away in the open end of the carton above the breast 18, and the flaps closed. While use of a cork to seal the tube end is described, it will be understood that any means of sealing the tube may be employed, as by pinching the same, or, if plastic, by pinching under heat to form a transverse seam or seal. While not shown, such apparatus for sealing may be associated with the arm 32, and rendered effective to seal the tube end, before releasing the tube from the arm. While use of a breast has been referred to in the carton, the purpose thereof is to facilitate tube withdrawal for dispensing, and a support, when the package is inverted for dispensing. It will readily appear that where such advantages are not desired, the breast may be dispensed with.

In practice, lined cartons filled by the apparatus may have a ten quart capacity, so that the filled cart-on weighs about 20 pounds, a weight not out of line with food store items. The \fact that filling commences with a collapsed bag, free of air, and sanitary in every respect, and that subsequent dispensing results in collapsing the bag, Without allowing air to enter, and the fact that the carton may be placed in a refrigerator and not removed therefrom during the entire dispensing process, results in maintaining the contents under conditions which have a marked effect in prolonging the period during which the contents remain fresh.

The filling apparatus, by evacuating the tube, and assuring complete collapse of the liner, as a result of subjecting the tube and liner to vacuum, immediately before filling, eliminates practically the last trace of air, and the one cause of foaming during filling, with the elimination of foaming, the pressure used for filling is without limit, and the fill time, even through a small hose, is remarkably short. The entire process is conducted without spillage or mess, and the apparatus retains its sanitary condition over long periods.

While a single station has been shown, it will be understood that a number of filling stations may be set up alongside one another, and all served from the same pressurized source of milk or other liquid, and all served by the same vacuum pump. A single operator may -attend a number of such stations since during the filling of some of the stations no attention is required. The operator may thus be setting the hose end for filling at one station, or elfecting the final operations in connection with scaling up a filled carton at another station.

It will be further understood that the shape of the flare 58, and the taper of the nozzle 103 may vary to suit the nature and resiliency of the hose to which connection is to be made, and further that various sized nozzle and sleeve elements 56} and 52 may be employed to accommodate different diameter hoses. If the hose be of plastic, with little resiliency, the flare, and the taper of the nozzle will be correspondingly reduced.

It is contemplated that the filling stations may be arranged around a conveyor travelling in a circle, each station travelling with the conveyor having a loading platform and valve, so that an operator located at one position can effect the necessary placement and removal of the hose ends of a sequence of packages, empty and filled as each starts and completes its filling travel around the apparatus. The filling being done under entirely sealed conditions, is especially adapted to filling while in motion, since spillage, as in open container filling, cannot occur.

It will be seen that a valve apparatus has been disclosed which initially, after nozzle connection with the fill tube, subjects the container and tube to vacuum, and thereafter, after disconnecting the vacuum but while retaining the nozzle connection, subjects the tube and container to a source of liquid under pressure, to effect filling of the vacuum collapsed container.

While a single modification of the-invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited thereto. For example, various forms of valvesmay. be employed such as rotary and the like in place of the valve illustrated. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be hadto the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquid filling apparatus for a flexible thin walled collapsible container liner disposed within a semirigid supporting container of a girth and length at least as great as the container, valvular means for vacuumizing and collapsing said liner and subsequently delivering liquid into said liner, and means responsive to the weight of liquid delivered to said liner for terminating filling thereof prior to the delivery of a quantity approaching the volume of said container whereby the pressure within the liner does not exceed atmospheric pressure as increased by the static head of the liquid within the liner.

2. In a liquid filling apparatus for a flexible thin walled collapsible container liner disposed within a semi-rigid supporting container of a girth and length at least as great as the container, means for efiecting a sealed connection to said liner for vacuumizing said liner, valvular means associated with and acting through said sealed connection for vacuumizing and collapsing said liner and valvular means for subsequently filling said liner with liquid from a pressure source while maintaining said sealed connection, and means responsive to the quantity of liquid delivered to said liner for terminating filling thereof whereby the pressure within the liner does not exceed atmospheric pressure as increased by the static head of the liquid within the liner.

3. In a liquid filling apparatus for a flexible thin walled collapsible container liner disposed within a semi-rigid supporting container of a girth and length at least as great as the container, means for effecting a sealed connection to said liner for vacuurnizing said liner, valvular means associated with and acting through said sealed connection for vacuumizing and collapsing said liner and valvular means for subsequently filling said liner with liquid from a pressure source while maintaining said sealed connection, and means responsive to the quantity of liquid-delivered to said liner for terminating filling thereof whereby the pressure within the liner does not exceed atmospheric pressure as increased by the static head of the liquid within the liner, said last named means including means to disconnect said sealed connection.

4. In a liquid filling apparatus for a flexible thin walled collapsible container liner disposed within a semi-rigid supporting container of a girth and length at least as great as the container having a small fill hose, comprising means to support the end of said hose, means for effecting a sealed connection to said hose, valvular means associated with said connection means, including means for vacuumizing said liner, and means for subsequently filling said liner with liquid from a pressure source, all while maintaining said sealed connection and means responsive to the weight of the container for terminating the filling of the liner thereof.

5. In a liquid filling apparatus for a flexible thin walled collapsible container liner disposed within a semi-rigid supporting container of a girth and length at least as great as the container having a small fill hose, comprising means to support the end of said hose, means for effecting a sealed connection to said hose, valvular means associated with said connection means, including means for vacuumizing said liner, and means for subsequently filling said liner with liquid from a pressure source, all while maintaining said sealed connection, and means responsive to the weight of the container for terminating the filling of the liner thereof, said last named means 8 including means to disconnect said sealed connection to said hose.

6., A liquid filling apparatus for filling collapsible impervious containers having a small circular semi-rigid plastic fill tube, comprising a support arm for an end of said fill tube, said support arm having a cylindrical split sleeve adapted to closely embrace the end of said tube, said sleeve being flared at its upper end to permit elastic expansion ofa tube end held in said sleeve, and a filling valve located above said support arm, having a nozzle adapted to enter the tube end, said nozzle having a tapered outer wall adapted when inserted into said fill tube, to elastically expand the tube end into the flare of said sleeve and form a sealed connection.

7. A liquid filling apparatus for filling collapsible impervious containers having a small circular semi-rigid plastic fill tube, comprising a support arm for an end of said fill tube, said support arm having a cylindrical split sleeve adapted to closely embrace the end of said tube, said sleeve being flared at its upper end to permit elastic expansion of a tube end held in said sleeve, and a filling valve located above said support arm, having a nozzle adapted to enter the tube end, said nozzle having a tapered outer wall adapted when inserted into said fill tube, to elastically expand the tube end into the flare of said sleeve and form a sealed connection and means associated with said valve for connecting said nozzle, while sealingly engaging the said arm supported tube end, sequentially to vacuum, and immediately thereafter to a' source of liquid under pressure, whereby to evacuate said tube to a substantial degree and collapse the container prior to liquid filling thereof and whereby to provide foam free filling thereof.

8. A liquid filling apparatus for filling collapsible impervious containers having a small circular semi-rigid plastic fill tube, comprising a support arm for an end of said fill tube, said support arm having a cylindrical split sleeve adapted to closely embrace the end of said tube, said sleeve being flared at its upper end to permit elastic expansion of a tube end held in said sleeve, and a fill-ing valve located above said support arm, having a nozzle adapted to enter the tube end, said nozzle having a tapered outer Wall adapted when inserted into said fill tube, to elastically expand the tube end into the flare of said sleeve and form a sealed connection, means associated with said valve for connecting said nozzle, while sealingly engaging the said arm supported tube end, sequentially to vacuum, and immediately thereafter to a source of liquid under pressure, whereby to evacuate said tube to a substantial degree and collapse the container prior to liquid filling thereof and whereby to provide foam free filling thereof, and means responsive to the weight of said container and liquid for disconnecting said nozzle from said liquid source, including means to disconnect said nozzle from said tube. V

9. A liquid filling apparatus comprising a base, a support extending upward from the base having a container filling tube support arm extending over said base, and a valve mechanism support disposed above said tube support arm, said valve support comprising a guideway, valve mechanism slidable in said guideway for movement toward and away from said tube support arm, said valve mechanism comprising a hollow valve body and a valve element slidable therein, said valve element having a tube engaging nozzle projecting from the lower end thereof, and a side port connecting with said nozzle, and said body having a lower lateral side port connected to a source of vacuum, and an upper lateral side port connected to a source of liquid under pressure, and means for lowering said valve mechmiism to engage said nozzle with a fill tube and for thereafter moving said body downwardly relative to'said element to sequentially connect said ele ment side ports with said lower and upper body side ports.

10. A liquid filling apparatus comprising a base, a scale platform mounted on said base, a support extending up- 9 ward from the base having a container filling tube support arm extending over said platform, and a valve mechanism support disposed above said tube support arm, said valve support comprising a guideway, valve mechanism slidable in said guideway for movement toward and away from said tube support arm, said valve mechanism comprising a hollow valve body and a valve element slidable therein, said valve element having a tube engaging nozzle projecting from the lower end thereof, and a side port connecting with said nozzle, and said body having a lower lateral side port connected to a source of vacuum, and an upper lateral side port connected to a source of liquid under pressure, and means for lowering said valve mechanism to engage said nozzle with a fill tube end and for thereafter moving said body downwardly relative to said element to sequentially connect said element side port with said lower and upper body side ports, means to lock said valve body in lowered position with its upper side port aligned with said element port, means to bias said valve mechanism to move upwardly in said guideway, and said valve body to move upwardly with respect to said element, and means responsive to movement of said scale platform for releasing said lock means.

11. A liquid filling apparatus for flexible thin wall impervious collapsible containers having a small diameter discharge and fill tube, comprising a support for the tube end, a valve mechanism disposed in alignment above the support, comprising a guide, a hollow valve body slidable in the guide and having a liquid inlet port, and a vacuum port disposed in spaced relation to said inlet port along the length thereof, a valve element slidably disposed within said body having a nozzle at one end adapted to sealingly engage a tube end held in said support, and a port extending through said element from said nozzle to a side port in said element adapted to alternately be aligned with said valve body vacuum port and inlet port, means for biasing said valve element for movement of its side port beyond said body vacuum port.

12. A liquid filling apparatus for flexible thin wall impervious collapsible containers having a small diameter fill tube, comprising means to support the container, means to support the tube end, valve mechanism comprising a valve element having an end nozzle adapted to be coupled with the hose end, said element having a side port connecting with said nozzle, a valve body associated with said element and movable relative thereto, said valve body having a vacuum port, and a liquid inlet port and a pressure source of liquid connected thereto, and means for moving said body member relative to said element to sequentially connect said vacuum and inlet ports with said side port.

13. A liquid filling apparatus for flexible thin wall impervious collapsible containers having a small diameter fill tube, comprising means to support the container, means to support the tube end, valve mechanism comprising a valve element having an end nozzle adapted to be coupled with a hose end, said element having a side port connecting with said nozzle, a valve body associated with said element movable relative thereto, said valve body having a vacuum port, and a liquid inlet port adapted upon relative movement between said body and element to sequentially couple said nozzle with the hose end, and thereafter align said element side port with said body vacuum port and subsequently said liquid inlet port.

14. A liquid filling apparatus for flexible thin wall impervious collapsible containers having a small diameter fill tube, comprising means to support the container, means to support the tube end, valve mechanism comprising a valve element having an end nozzle adapted to be coupled with a hose end, said element having a side port connecting with said nozzle, a valve body associated with said element movable relative thereto, said valve body having a vacuum port, and a liquid inlet port adapted upon relative movement between said body and element to sequentially couple said nozzle with the hose end, and thereafter align said element side port with said body vacuum port and subsequently said liquid inlet port, and means responsive to the weight of a container being filled for sequentially disaligning said liquid inlet port and side port, and uncoupling said nozzle.

15. A liquid filling valve mechanism comprising a guideway support, a hollow cylindrical valve body having an upwardly extending tubular shank slidable in said support, said body having a liquid inlet port and a vacuum inlet port, axially spaced along the valve body, a valve element slidably disposed Within said valve body, and having a stem extending through said body shank and beyond the end there-of, a guide collar in the end of said hollow shank, through which said stem extends, a compression spring disposed around said stem and within said shank adapted to urge said element downwardly with respect to said body, and shoulder means on the end of said shank beyond said collar for limiting the relative movement between said element and body, said element having a nozzle on its lower end, and a side port connecting therewith and adapted to sequentially be aligned with said vacuum inlet port and said liquid inlet port, upon relative movement between said body and element against the compression of said spring.

16. A liquid filling valve mechanism comprising a guideway support, a hollow cylindrical valve body having a shoulder and a tubular shank extend-ing upwardly therefrom and slidable in said support, means to bias said body to a position with said shoulder engaging said support, said body having an upper liquid inlet port and a lower vacuum side inlet port, axially spaced along the valve body, a valve element slidably disposed within said valve body, and having a stem extending through said body shank and beyond the end thereof, a guide collar in the end of said hollow shank, through which said stem extends, a compression spring disposed around said stem and within said shank adapted to urge said element downwardly with respect to said body, and shoulder means on the end of said shank beyond said collar for limiting the relative movement between said element and body, said element having a nozzle on its lower end, and a side port connecting therewith and adapted to sequentially be aligned with said vacuum inlet port and said liquid inlet port, upon relative movement between said body and element against the compression of said spring.

17. A liquid filling valve mechanism comprising a guideway support, a hollow cylindrical valve body having a shoulder and a tubular shank extending upwardly therefrom and slidable in said support, means to bias said body to a position with said shoulder engaging said support, said body having an upper liquid inlet port and a lower vacuum side inlet port, axially spaced along the valve body, a valve element slidably disposed within said valve body, and having a stem extending through said body shank and beyond the end thereof, a guide collar in the end of said hollow shank, through which said stem extends, a compression spring disposed around said stem and within said shank adapted to urge said element downwardly with respect to said body, and shoulder means on the end of said shank beyond said collar for limiting the relative movement between said element and body, said element having a nozzle on its lower end, and a side port connecting therewith and adapted to sequentially be aligned with said vacuum inlet port and said liquid inlet port, upon relative movement between said body and element against the compression of said spring, means for supporting the open end of a fill tube of a collapsible container immediately below and in alignment with said nozzle for reception thereof upon lowering said valve body and element in its guideway.

18. The method of filling a semi-rigid container having bottom and side walls and having disposed therein a collapsible thin wall flexible impervious liner having a girth and length at least as great as the container and pressure, as increased by the static head of theliquid 10 within the liner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meyer Apr. 22, 'Phelps Dec. 9, MoMahan May 23, Spaulding Aug. 19, Ray Nov. 28, Henderson Oct. 6, Bender Sept. 22, Carter Sept. 27, 

1. IN A LIQUID FILING APPARATUS FOR A FLEXIBLE THIN WALLED COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER LINER DISOSED WITHIN A SEMIRIGID SUPPORTING CONTAINER OF A GIRTH AND LENGTH AT LEAST AS GREAT AS THE CONTAINER, VALVULAR MEANS FOR VACUUMIZING AND COLLAPSING SAID LINER AND SUBSEQUENTLY DELIVERING LIQUID INTO SAID LINER, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE WEIGHT OF LIQUID DELIVERED TO SAID LINER FOR TERMINATING FILLING THEREOF PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY OF A QUANTITY APPROACHING THE VOLUME OF SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY THE PRESSURE WITHIN THE LINER DOES NOT EXCEED ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AS INCREASED BY THE STATIC HEAD OF THE LIQUID WITHIN THE LINER. 